Superman Returns

Superman Returns assumes the appalling 80's sequels Superman 3 and Superman 4 never took place, and picks up following the events of Superman 2. In that film, starring the late Christopher Reeve and the might-as-well-be late Margot Kidder, Kal-El erased Lois's memory of their consummation and vanquished the three Kryptonian villains.

Now, Superman returns to Earth after spending five years in space needlessly trying to find himself. This plot point is one of the most misguided ideas ever to come out of Hollywood. Those involved are clearly unaware and ignorant of the Superman mystique which has evolved over the last six decades. By saddling the Man of Steel with angst, he regresses to the pubescent teen and outcast he overcame years earlier. Barely-out-of-the-cradle writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have likely watched too many episodes of Dawson's Creek -- they are too ignorant to realize that changing the core concept of a franchise does not improve matters, but spoils and bastardizes it.

Upon resuming his job at The Daily Planet, Clark finds that Lois Lane now has a 4-year-old son and a long-time fiancé. She claims to have moved on with her life, but if she really had she would be married. Lois has also written an article entitled, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman", a rant that is cynical even for her. This begs the question, "Does the World Need Another Superman Movie?" Perhaps, providing one can view this film as being set in an alternate reality, unlike the original films set in our own contemporary existence. After all, in an age of anti-American terrorists, chasing down bank robbers and power-mad maniacs like Lex Luthor seems dated and trivial.

Once more, Luthor hopes to gain a monopoly on seafront property. (In the original film, he bought up land in Nevada and attempted to sink California into the sea by triggering a giant earthquake.) This time, utilizing Kal-El's crystals from the Fortress of Solitude, he creates a new continent in the Atlantic. But far too much time is expended on this blackened wasteland -- even the concomitant action cannot alleviate a viewer's boredom with the drab visuals.

Relative newcomer Brandon Routh (the ninth actor to play the Man of Steel) shines in the heroic role despite, or because, of the fact he has little to say. But he is unable to pull off the nerd-like qualities so necessary for Clark Kent. Kate Bosworth is poorly cast, having neither the savvy sex appeal nor heartsick vulnerability necessary for Lois. And there are no sparks between them whatsoever.

As Lex Luthor, Kevin Spacey follows the standard set by Gene Hackman, but tends to overact. James Marsden, as Richard White, is a devoted family-man to Lois and their son, creating a sympathetic character out of little screen time. The cast also includes Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent, Frank Langella as Perry White, the ever-unappealing Parker Posey as Luthor's moll, and Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen, none of whom are memorable. It is interesting to note that an unrecognizable Noel Neill (the first Lois Lane) appears as a dying heiress.

Homage is paid to the 1978 feature through archival footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, a photo of Jonathan Kent as played by Glenn Ford, and the infamous Addis Ababa meteorite, while the stirring theme by John Williams has been wisely resurrected. Further, a scene showing the faces of Lois, Richard and their son trapped beneath a porthole in a sunken ship is eerily reminiscent of the Phantom Zone, which figured so prominently in the first two films.

Director Bryan Singer, who teamed with the writers on X2, creates some exciting disaster and rescue sequences, but otherwise simply points the camera to shoot the intervening dialogue. Unfortunately, their attempt to cram so many elements into the film brings it to an unnecessary 149 minutes.

Although Superman Returns is an entertaining and intriguing movie that makes for fine summer fare, its flaws will prevent it from becoming a reverent classic. Rating: 5 out of 10.